Two firefighters in Idaho shot and killed in ‘heinous’ ambush
Kootenai County Sheriff says law enforcement officials are taking sniper fire as they hunt for the killer.
Two firefighters have been killed and another wounded in the United States after a gunman ambushed fire crews responding to a blaze in the state of Idaho, according to officials.
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said on Sunday that a tactical response team discovered the body of a the suspected gunman on Canfield Mountain with a firearm nearby.
The office did not release his name, nor say what kind of gun was found.
“At this time, the shelter in place is being lifted, however there is still an active wildfire on Canfield Mountain,” the statement said.
“Residents in the area are advised to be prepared and ready should further action need to be taken.”
Earlier, Sheriff Bob Norris said that law enforcement officers and firefighters were taking sniper fire and urged people to stay clear of the area around Canfield Mountain, a nature zone popular with hikers near Coeur d’Alene, about 260 miles (420 km) east of Seattle.
The sheriff said the shooter had used high-powered sporting rifles to fire rapidly at first responders, with law enforcement initially unsure of the number of perpetrators involved.
They were in a spot “with heavy brush and they are well prepared and blending in with their surroundings”, Norris added.
Video footage from the scene earlier showed smoke billowing from heavily wooded hillsides and armed responders preparing, while several ambulances and emergency vehicles were seen entering a nearby hospital.
“FBI technical teams and tactical assets are currently on the scene providing support,” FBI deputy director Dan Bongino wrote on X. “It remains an active, and very dangerous scene.”
Idaho Governor Brad Little said “multiple” firefighters were attacked.
“This is a heinous direct assault on our brave firefighters,” he said on X. “I ask all Idahoans to pray for them and their families as we wait to learn more.”
Kootenai County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jeff Howard told ABC News that law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set to lure first responders to the scene.
Gun ownership is widespread in the US, where the country’s Constitution protects the rights of Americans to “keep and bear arms”.
Deaths related to gun violence are common. At least 17,927 people were murdered by a gun in 2023 in the US, according to the most recent available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
